2021 Jayco Precept

This concerns the towing hitch on the Jayco precept. While driving the hitch collapsed and the towing arms started to drag on the ground It tore away where the bends are, that form part of the plate that is bolted onto the precept. This could have resulted in destroying our towed vehicle or if the last inch had separated it would have caused the towed vehicle to no longer be attached to our Jayco. It could have caused serious injury to other vehicles on the road. Fortunately we had just stopped at a light and heard the towing equipment scraping on the ground, so we were able to unhook and travel to find a welder to weld it back in place.

On [XXX], I was driving my 2021 Jayco Motorhome built on the Ford F53 chassis on a trip to Tucson, Arizona. On my way there, just outside of Clovis, NM, I noticed a strange vibration in my front end. When I attempted to slow down to enter Clovis, I heard grinding as I stepped on the brake and had a hard time slowing. We immediately searched for a local Ford Truck repair shop. Finding none anywhere close, we drove to Clovis Big Rig Repair. The repair shop immediately had us pull in. They jacked up the front of the rig and noted that the driver’s side of the rig’s wheel bearing was loose. When they checked the passenger’s side tire, the tire moved back and forth approximately three inches both ways. Upon further inspection they discovered that both bearings had been installed with very little grease. When the passenger bearing failed, they also discovered it damaged the hub and both the bearing and the hub had to be replaced. Fortunately, this wheel bearing failed on a flat straight road. We often travel the interstate through the mountains. Had this wheel bearing failed coming down a mountain, on a curve, the results could have been catastrophic. The independent repair shop verified the issue. The inspection interval as stated by the Ford Service manual is 60,000 miles. This failure occurred at 28,426 miles. The repair shop probably still has the failed hub and wheel bearings, if you desire to inspect them. There were no warning lamps to signal a failure. I have the receipts for the repairs which state the failure occurred due to "no grease". I will provide these to the NHTSA if requested. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The heat shield above the catalytic converter and associated pipes were not extended far enough which caused the pass through storage and wiring harness covering to melt. This could have been a disaster. There is a recall on 2018 and prior same models for the exact same problem. Jayco is of no help as there is not a recall for this year model. There are other owners with the same problem. This could cause a fatality while driving

The HLM (out of business) trailer hitch tore at the welds on both sides. Manufacturer states you can tow 5,000 lbs./500 tongue. My trailer fully loaded is 4600/380. I took the RV back to the Jayco Service Center, where I purchased it, to be repaired. I was informed HLM(aka pull rite) was contracted to build the hitch and no longer manufacture it. I was also informed that the hitch is mounted on a frame extension. The Ford Chassis ends just past the axles and the bedroom is built on this frame extension. I have several concerns with the safety/quality of this type of manufacturing(during COVID). Not only because this happen to us, but I have learned years other Jayco Class A owners (2020-2022) have experienced the same thing. We could have lost the whole trailer at highway speeds that could have resulted in a huge catastrophe to others!! Very unsafe! The first 3 pictures are of my hitch. The rest of the pictures are from other Jayco RV Owners that could have lost their tow cars/trailers too. I want to emphasize, no one was towing over capacity.

The heat shield on the floor of the passenger side is missing near the exhaust manifold. The shield cable for the batteries and other wiring has melted and shorted some wires. The heat was so hot that it melted the plastic storage compartment also and exposed the vehicle to exhaust gases and heat. This is an extreme safety hazard as the vehicle could catch on fire. I am scared to drive the vehicle.

Component: Windshield wipers stopped during Interstate driving in a thunderstorm/heavy rain. It is available for inspection upon request. Visibility was reduced to near zero, putting myself and other drivers at a significantly increased risk of a crash. I steered to the emergency lane and stopped until the rain lessened, then crept to the next exit (<0.25 mi) to a Love's Truck Stop. The passenger wiper arm had slipped to a downward position completely off the windshield, but both wipers were inoperative. I found a blown 40 amp fuse for the wiper circuit but did not have a spare for replacement. After the rain stopped completely, I removed both wipers, purchased and applied Rain-X to the windshield, and continued traveling another 200 miles to home. I have not contacted a dealer, so the component/vehicle has not been inspected by anyone. There was no warning lamp or message, but just before the wipers stopped the passenger wiper began to operate in a jerking fashion. It was raining very hard and the wiper control was on FAST mode.

WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN WITH THE WIPERS ON HIGH THEY WILL HIT EACH OTHER. THUS, COMING LOSE. IT ONLY DOES IT WHEN THERE IS RAIN AND WIND WHILE DRIVING EVEN AT JUST 50 MPH. DEALERSHIP SPRAYED HOSE ON IT AND COULD NOT REPLICATE THE EFFECT. WELL DRIVE IT AND YOU WILL SEE. TERRIBLE TO SPEND OVER137K FOR SOMETHING I CAN'T DRIVE IN A RAIN STORM.